The goal here was to get to know who is handling retail now that Toyguru is alone on Mattycollector isle, correct? I really don't think that marker was passed. I assume we were all looking for some transparency as to whom is involved with running the line and some honesty about what's going on behind the scenes and what we can expect from Mattel concerning DC retail. However we start with a disclaimer that ‘Matty Justice League’ could be a number of people. We then go on to hear a little bit about the interviewees background which would be great if we knew we'd always be checking in with this person. What if the majority of the team under this moniker has never been to a con or seen a DC animated movie? The multiple contacts leads to the cognitive dissonance that we see in the Q+A's every month (including an increasing amount of typos). We had a great YJ question which was side stepped, a inconclusive reply to the Wal Mart question, and then just a complete non answer on the division of labor or the future of other toy lines.

What would I have liked to have heard about was the internal decisions going on at last year's SDCC, what the future holds for this supposed refresh of DC @ a 6" scale, how closely they are working with the online division, what, if any, figures will be salvaged from the canceled solicits, what are some of the terms from DC, Mattel, or retail, the list goes on and on. A lot of those things they may not be ready to answer yet, I understand. But what I'm missing from this interview as well as the Q+A's is just a little bit of humanity. This isn't a quarterly report to investors and we aren't children. The dudes reading this stuff are probably about the same age as the people making this stuff. If this interview started up with "Hey my name's Brian (that can even be made up), I'm here on the new DC retail team and I can't wait for you guys to see what we have planned." Even that little bit of humanity would be appreciated. Anyways that's my 2 cents. These fan interactions could help them gain a considerable amount of good will, they just need to take the Matty mask off and talk to us like a person, not a consumer.

These new people have ZERO reason to offer us that. Look at the way TG is treated now and tell me what benefit you would see from the other side of this to open yourself up to this community.

I'm with you 100%. Scott has had people actually threaten him and his safety in the past. Don't forget the crap that Danielle went through last year, too, with people demanding she be fired or step down. I'm sure she is all about keeping things more anonymous this go-round.

The kind of fan interaction that Scott has spearheaded is pretty unprecedented, and it's a double-edged sword in every way. They're brand managers, not appointed-forum-question-answerers. I'm sure that posting on the forum and talking to AFi isn't exactly in their job description.

These new people have ZERO reason to offer us that. Look at the way TG is treated now and tell me what benefit you would see from the other side of this to open yourself up to this community.

I'm with you 100%. Scott has had people actually threaten him and his safety in the past. Don't forget the crap that Danielle went through last year, too, with people demanding she be fired or step down. I'm sure she is all about keeping things more anonymous this go-round.

The kind of fan interaction that Scott has spearheaded is pretty unprecedented, and it's a double-edged sword in every way. They're brand managers, not appointed-forum-question-answerers. I'm sure that posting on the forum and talking to AFi isn't exactly in their job description.

Agree completely. For the most part the fandom is filled with too many crazies who when you give them an inch they want a mile and somehow think they deserve and are entitled too any and all complaints and wants regarding action figures.

_________________“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” Thomas Jefferson

No one understands anonymity better than me, and it does get bad for people like Scott, whose name is out there and opens himself up to a two way communication. Everyone feels like they have a stake in his job.

HOWEVER, once you open that box, you have now unleashed a beast and there is a certain type of communique that the community expects, and I do agree that this interview did not, in any way, hit that or do anything to asway fears or mistrust with a line we all so love.

I agree that a bit of "every guy" speak would have gone a long way. Corporate PR is terrible at making people feel like people. But they also understand how words could be misconstrewed and taking out if context, so they always err on the side of caution.

I've been on the fence for months now, if I actually WANT any communication as I feel Im only frustrated every 1st and 15th of the month. I rarely hear good news or even frank clarity to our questions. And when reall issues -Stinkorgate- come up, they're typically answered and the info is disseminated out to the community. So I pose this to the group, Is it worth to ask questions any more of all we get is doublespeak?

So I pose this to the group, Is it worth to ask questions any more of all we get is doublespeak?

The Ask Mattys are worthless. They were spread too thin before the Matty forum opened up, and now, half of the questions that are submitted for answers are answered on Matty's forums in between the 1st and 15th.